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Five Things to Avoid When Using Public Wi-Fi
Wednesday, August 7, 2019
ERIE, Pa., Aug. 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Public Wi-Fi helps us stay connected no matter where we go. It's convenient to use at a coffee shop, a neighborhood restaurant or at the airport, but how safe is it? Unfortunately, cyber criminals can log in to the same free network that you do and attempt to gain access to your devices and personal information.
"The Wi-Fi may be free, but that doesn't mean your online activities are safe," says Cheryl Lorei, a senior IT analyst at Erie Insurance. "The big concern with public Wi-Fi is that your information could be available to anyone on the network. It's nothing against the businesses that offer free Wi-Fi, it's just that they're not in the business of keeping your personal information safe."
Here are five key things that you need know about public Wi-Fi security and how to keep your personal information safe:
1. Watch out for phony Wi-Fi access points. Fake routers are designed to
look legitimate, but hackers operate them. With this popular method,
called a man-in-the-middle attack, the invader tries to get between you
and your personal information that is stored on a banking website or in
an email. Experts suggest asking the business owner or hotel to verify
the network name before you connect to it.
2. Never automatically connect to a public network. Once you're finished
using one, remove the public Wi-Fi connection from your device by
choosing "Forget this Network." If your device is still in the mode of
actively trying to connect, a hacker may notice and create a phony access
point.
3. Limit your activity while using public Wi-Fi. When you're using free
Wi-Fi, it's not a good time to shop online, use social media or access
your bank account or email. "You want to avoid visiting websites that
save and store your personal passwords or credit card numbers," says
Lorei. "You could inadvertently make it easy for someone to access your
personal information. Once they have your password, they will try to
reuse it repeatedly to access other sites to gain more information about
you."
4. Use secured websites or a VPN service. Generally, it's best to access
secure websites that begin with https rather than http. The s in the
address is an indication that the site uses a secured encryption Web
protocol to protect the confidentiality of online activities or
transactions. A virtual private network (VPN) also offers a connection
that is encrypted and secured. VPN can help protect you from digital
eavesdropping even when you're on public Wi-Fi. The fees for basic VPN
services are less than $10 a month.
5. Turn your smartphone into a secure personal hotspot. Most mobile phones
can be turned into hotspots and support several devices at once. However,
check your data plan before you try it to avoid unexpected expenses.
If your identity is stolen, it can be difficult and costly to recover. Insurance coverage is available for identity theft and fraud. With Erie Insurance's Identity Theft Recovery Coverage, you'll get help with the recovery process and coverage for expenses like charges for credit reports, lost wages and even some legal fees. The cost of the coverage is low, and it can be added to a home or renters insurance policy. Your local Erie Insurance agent can give you more information.
Erie Insurance Group
According to A.M. Best Company, Erie Insurance Group, based in Erie, Pennsylvania, is the 9(th) largest homeowners insurer and 12(th )largest automobile insurer in the United States based on direct premiums written and the 16(th) largest property/casualty insurer in the United States based on total lines net premium written. The Group, rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company, has more than 5 million policies in force and operates in 12 states and the District of Columbia. Erie Insurance Group is a FORTUNE 500 company.
News releases and more information about Erie Insurance Group are available at www.erieinsurance.com.
View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/five-things-to-avoid-when-using-public-wi-fi-300897746.html
SOURCE Erie Insurance Group
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